About: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Greek, Turkish ministers clash at heated Ankara presser
The foreign ministers of Greece and Turkey on Thursday (15 April) clashed on a wide range of issues during a heated news conference that underscored the trouble the two historic rivals will have at mending their broken ties.
Turkey frees journalist Altan after European rights court ruling
A Turkish court on Wednesday (14 April) released journalist and novelist Ahmet Altan after more than four years in prison on charges of involvement in a failed 2016 coup attempt that he had always denied.
Germany, US call on Russia to pull back troops from Ukrainian border
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Joe Biden called on Russia to pull back troops from the Ukrainian border to de-escalate the situation in the region, a German government spokesman said on Wednesday (14 April).
Tweets of the Week: Sofa-gate, Northern Ireland, Eurostar
In Ankara VDL is denied a chair, Northern Ireland violence is hard to bear and Eurostar's failing and the Brits don’t care.
Italy’s Draghi accuses ‘dictator’ Erdogan, Turkey condemns the ‘ugly’ remarks
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Thursday (8 April) accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of humiliating European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this week and said it is important to be frank with "dictators", drawing condemnation from Ankara.
‘Sofa-gate’ brings more headaches for the EU
The protocol scandal that overshadowed the EU leaders’ recent visit to Turkey keeps unfolding, raising questions about Council President Charles Michel's reaction, but also about the EU's consistency in asking Ankara to adhere to the Istanbul Convention.
‘Divan-gate’: Brussels angry over von der Leyen Turkey chair snub
The European Commission hit out Wednesday (7 April) at a diplomatic snub that left its head Ursula von der Leyen without a chair as male counterparts sat down at a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
EU chiefs press Erdogan on rights while stressing better ties
The European Union's top two officials on Tuesday (6 April) expressed deep worries about human rights in Turkey while voicing hope for stronger ties in their first meeting in a year with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Jailed Kurdish leader calls on Turkish opposition to unite against Erdogan
Former pro-Kurdish party leader Selahattin Demirtaş, jailed since 2016 despite Western calls for his release, said the Turkish opposition should unite against rising oppression and moves to divide them, including a court case to ban his party.
EU dangles carrots for Turkey if ‘de-escalation sustained’
European Union leaders are ready to boost cooperation with Turkey if a "current de-escalation is sustained", they said in a video summit on Thursday (25 March) following a spike in tensions.
Blinken rides high in rebuilding US ties on first Brussels visit
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is eagerly awaited in Brussels with allies hoping to rebuild transatlantic ties after Donald Trump’s departure from the White House. EURACTIV spoke to the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Mission to NATO ahead of...
LEAK: Borrell report suggests new carrot-and-stick approach for Turkey
Turkey will be invited to follow a path of dialogue and reap some economic benefits, or move further away from Europe and face consequences, the EU's chief diplomat wrote in his Turkey report, set to be discussed by EU leaders later this week, according to a draft report seen by EURACTIV.
US, Europe press Turkey to rethink ditching of Istanbul Convention
US and European leaders denounced what they called Turkey's baffling and concerning decision to pull out of an international accord designed to protect women from violence, and urged President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to reconsider.
Tables have turned: EU is handling Turkey issue together with Washington
Turkey is not just a European-Turkish issue, but also an issue in our transatlantic partnership, and obviously, our partnership with NATO, senior EU officials have said.
EU ‘deeply concerned’ over crackdown on pro-Kurdish party, Turkey rebuffs criticism
Turkey on Thursday (18 March) told foreign countries to keep out of its domestic affairs after Western powers uniformly condemned its bid to shut down the main pro-Kurdish party.
Turkey moves to ban pro-Kurdish HDP party
Turkey's pro-Kurdish party was fighting for its political survival on Wednesday (17 March) after a prosecutor asked the country's top court to shut it down for alleged links to militants waging a deadly insurgency against the state.
Talks stall in Greece-Turkey maritime dispute
Diplomats from NATO members Greece and Turkey failed to reach a breakthrough on Tuesday (16 March) during a latest round of talks on their standoff over eastern Mediterranean borders and energy rights.
NATO chief admits ‘serious concerns’ over Turkey, hopes for more NATO-EU cooperation
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday (15 March) told EU lawmakers he had “serious concerns” over actions by member Turkey and hoped an increased EU-NATO cooperation could counter China. “I have expressed my serious concerns, and we all know there...
Egypt says Turkish ‘words not enough’ to restore full ties
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry acknowledged Sunday (14 March) that diplomatic contact had been established with Turkey but warned full ties would depend on "a real change in Turkish policy", state media reported.
Turkey has stopped insulting us but action still needed, France says
Turkey has stopped insulting France and the European Union, providing some reassurance, but ties will remain fragile until it takes concrete action, France's foreign minister said.
Erdogan urges cooperation against terrorism in Macron call
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told French counterpart Emmanuel Macron he wants their countries to cooperate to fight terrorism, as Ankara moves to ease tensions with Paris.
Turkey says it will only join Cyprus talks with two-state proposal
Turkey will only join talks to resolve decades of dispute over Cyprus with a proposal to establish two states on the island, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said, adding previous failed proposals should not be on the agenda.
Turkey’s unlikely westward turn
Turkey's sudden desire to 'turn a new page' in its western relations comes as a surprise. But what is behind is an apparent change of heart which has to do with the country's deteriorating economy, writes Robert Ellis.